Animal Attendants and Trainers

ANZSCO ID 3611

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
22,900
Future Growth
14.9%
Weekly Earnings
$1,287
Full-Time Share
47%
Female Share
68%
Average age
38

Summary

Animal Attendants and Trainers train, feed, groom and care for animals.

Tasks

  • teaching animals to obey verbal and non-verbal commands and addressing behavioural problems

  • training animals to accept riders and pull vehicles

  • training animals to perform in competitions

  • bathing, cutting, combing, blow-drying and styling pets' coats, clipping their nails and cleaning their ears

  • inspecting, preparing, cleaning, disinfecting and maintaining comfortable animal cages and enclosures

  • transporting food, filling water troughs and feeding animals according to their individual needs

  • maintaining animal health records, treating minor injuries and reporting serious conditions to Veterinarians

  • exercising and playing with animals, answering visitor questions, and transferring animals between enclosures by leading or carrying them

  • dusting and spraying insecticides on animals and immersing them in insecticide baths, to control insect pests

Characteristics

Job Type
Technicians And Trades Workers
Skill Level
Lower skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
Average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
  • Administrative
Physical Demand
  • Medium
  • Heavy

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:

  • is expected to grow strongly
  • is likely to reach 23,800 by 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.

Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.

Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.

Projected Change
14.9%
(or 3,100 jobs)
From
20,700
in 2021
To
23,800
in 2026

Number of Workers

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Year Employment
2011 15,400
2012 15,800
2013 16,900
2014 12,700
2015 15,600
2016 19,000
2017 17,600
2018 17,700
2019 17,800
2020 20,100
2021 20,700
2026 23,800

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 51% of people employed as Animal Attendants and Trainers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 15 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 47 hours per week in their main job. This is 3 hours more than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Median full-time earnings are $1,287 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $959
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $1,401

    Median hourly earnings are $34, this is lower than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).

    Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.

Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Earnings Animal Attendants and Trainers All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 1,287 1,593
Total Earnings 0 0

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.


Industries

Main industries

1
Other Services
57.1%
2
Arts and Recreation Services
13.8%
3
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
10.7%
4
Education and Training
8.0%
5
Other industries
10.3%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

29.3% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

25.8% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

21.9% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

7.1% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

11.2% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

2.4% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

1.0% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.3% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Animal Attendants and Trainers All Jobs Average
NSW 29.3 31.6
VIC 25.8 25.6
QLD 21.9 20.0
SA 7.1 7.0
WA 11.2 10.8
TAS 2.4 2.0
NT 1.0 1.0
ACT 1.3 1.9


  • Around 52% of Animal Attendants and Trainers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
38
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
68%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Animal Attendants and Trainers is 38 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.

    Females make up 68% of the workforce. This is 20 percentage points above the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Animal Attendants and Trainers All Jobs Average
15-19 7.1 5.0
20-24 13.4 9.3
25-34 23.2 22.9
35-44 19.7 22.0
45-54 19.9 21.6
55-59 7.0 9.0
60-64 5.1 6.0
65 and Over 4.6 4.2
Median Age 38 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

Formal qualifications are not essential to work as an Animal Attendant or Trainer. Although some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in companion animal services.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Animal Care and Management VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Animal Attendants and Trainers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 2.5 10.1
Bachelor degree 11.8 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 10.1 11.6
Certificate III/IV 23.1 21.1
Year 12 22.9 18.1
Year 11 7.6 4.8
Year 10 and below 22.0 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.


Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Animal Attendants and Trainers who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 39%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 39%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 39%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 36%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 36%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • 36%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 34%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 34%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 34%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 32%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 32%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 32%

    Learning strategies

    Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.

  • 30%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 30%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 30%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 27%

    Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.

  • 25%

    Management of personnel resources

    Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.

  • 25%

    Negotiation

    Bringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.

  • 25%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.

  • 20%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 52%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 38%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 35%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 34%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 33%

    Biology

    Plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.

  • 28%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 26%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 25%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 24%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 21%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 20%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 20%

    Medicine and dentistry

    Diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.

  • 20%

    Sales and marketing

    Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • 18%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 17%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 17%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.

  • 16%

    Technical design

    Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • 14%

    Building and construction

    Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.

  • 13%

    Transportation

    Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.

  • 7%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 48%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 46%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 45%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 43%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 41%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 39%

    Extent flexibility

    Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • 39%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 37%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 37%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 37%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 37%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 36%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 36%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 36%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 36%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 34%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 32%

    Stamina

    Exercise for a long time without getting winded or out of breath.

  • 30%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.

  • 30%

    Manual dexterity

    Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

  • 29%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 67%

    Handling and moving objects

    Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.

  • 51%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 50%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 50%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 49%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 49%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 48%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 48%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 46%

    Helping and caring for others

    Providing personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.

  • 44%

    Doing physically active work

    Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.

  • 44%

    Assessing and evaluating things

    Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.

  • 43%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 42%

    Scheduling work and activities

    Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

  • 40%

    Thinking creatively

    Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.

  • 38%

    Communicating with the public

    Giving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 38%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 37%

    Working with the public

    Greeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.

  • 37%

    Training and teaching others

    Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.

  • 36%

    Coordinating the work of a team

    Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.

  • 31%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 95%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 76%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 48%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

  • 43%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 33%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 14%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 67%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 48%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 48%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 38%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 36%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 33%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 91%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 89%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 88%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 86%

    Unstructured work

    Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.

  • 85%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

    Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.

  • 84%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 84%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 83%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 83%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

    Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

  • 82%

    Repeating same tasks

    Repeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.

  • 81%

    Contact with the public

    Work with customers or the public.

  • 81%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 81%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

  • 80%

    Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings

    Be exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.

  • 78%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 73%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 72%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 66%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 64%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 64%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 39-2021.00 - Nonfarm Animal Caretakers.


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